Without safe access to food, water, or medical care, survival has become a daily gamble for the region’s youngest residents.

After months of planning, praying and fundraising, 11 juniors and seniors from St. John’s Catholic K-12 Religious Education ...

Pope Leo XIV spoke publicly about his childhood in Chicago for the first time as pontiff Thursday, recalling that from the ...

Journalists have become used to reporting annual disasters at the hajj, the once-in-a-lifetime trip to Mecca that all Muslims ...

His fellow founder, Hajj Malik Lovick — convicted of attempted murder, assault and gun charges for shooting a man outside the ...

After decades of dictatorship and 13 years of civil war, can Syria put itself back together? Our journalists traveled the ...

Muslims will soon welcome a new lunar year in what's known as the Hijri calendar. The Hijri New Year, beginning on the first ...

Children under 12 not allowed In a major shift, children under 12 are now banned from attending the Hajj. Saudi authorities introduced the policy to protect children from potential harm amid large ...

Iraqi pilgrims make their farewells from Sulaymaniyah as the first hajj convoy is sent off to the holy lands in Saudi Arabia on May 16, 2025. This year, children are no longer allowed to accompany ...

For example, children under 12 are not allowed to go this year. With millions of people all in one place, it’s super important to keep the crowds under control and avoid any dangerous situations.

Hajj 2025 sees a mix of ancient ritual and modern-day adaptation. From managing deadly heat and enforcing age bans to introducing flexible payment plans and tightening entry protocols, the ...